Question about a move in Scandinavian main line

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Avatar of Verbeena

Why is move 4. c5 inferior to other main line continuations? I have played it in a few games and like the open position it usually leads to given that white plays d4, which he always have done so far.

Avatar of emchel

I think that white has multiple decent ways to respond to 4... c5, for exemple 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 gives white a big development advantage.

These are all just sample lines, black might have an improvement somewhere, but it doesn't look good.

Avatar of Sred

White may play 5.d4 anyway. If 5... cxd4 6.Qxd4 the position gets wide open with a development advantage for White.

Avatar of Verbeena

Thanks for the sample lines. I can see that my success with playing c5 is due to my opponents (and myself) being low rated players and don't know how to refute that move. My b7 pawn became a target in several games either by white bishop or queen going to f3.

Here is a position where playing c5 was the best move according to stockfish. I guess i need more experience playing the scandi to really understand the why behind the moves.

Avatar of Sred

In that last position, White has already played the modest Be2 and Black has already played Nf6, which makes opening the position less advantageous for White.

Avatar of chessguy3214

I generally play c6 when playing the scandinivian and develop the knight to d2